23 Unique And Beautiful Braided Hairstyles For Girls

Be the showstopper and go creative with your hairstyles to look beautiful.

Reviewed by Tuera A. Jacobs, Licenced Cosmetologist
Written by Anjali Sayee, BTech
Edited by Asmita De, MA (English)
Fact-checked by Pahul Nanra, BA (English Hons)  • 

Intricately woven sections of the hair, entwined together to form an exquisite work of art displayed on your head! Braids are one of the classiest hairstyles ever to grace the earth.

Ariana, a makeup and beauty blogger, shares her experience of wearing different types of braids for a whole week in her blog. She mentions she does braids all the time. She also says, “This is partially due to the fact that I am too lazy to actually do it, but also because braids are such a trendy hairstyle that makes you look like you put in much more effort than you did (i).”

This is why we are discussing braided hairstyles for girls, and there are so many choices to pick from.

From two-strands to five-stranded weaves, braids can be very easy or super intricate. And you can let your creativity and personality show through the braid you flaunt. You can go for a simple yet elegant French braid or opt for something more artistic and messy like the boho-fishtail braid.

Scroll down to check out trendy braid hairstyles for girls and how to achieve them!

Scroll down to explore the many braid options you can try and how you can achieve the desired look.

protip_icon Before You Get Started
  • Braiding is an easy way to instantly freshen up greasy hair and enhance your look.
  • Detangle your hair thoroughly with a wide-toothed comb before braiding it to avoid damage.
  • Avoid pulling on your scalp when braiding or tying your hair too tightly. This can lead to hair breakage, scalp irritation, and hair loss.
  • Avoid keeping your braids for more than 3 to 4 days. Wrap your braids in silk or satin scarfs to avoid hair breakage.

1. Wavy Waterfall Side Braid

Wavy Waterfall Side Braid
Image: Shutterstock

What You Need

  • Comb
  • Elastic band

Procedure

  1. Brush your hair to remove any tangles or knots.
  2. Start weaving a classic braid from the left side of the head and slowly move to the other end.
  3. Add a small amount of hair with each stitch from the free-flowing mane.
  4. Turn the weave to the left side again to create a braided wave.
  5. Once you reach the end of the hair, secure the braid using an elastic band.

2. Braided Space Buns

Braided Space Buns
Image: Shutterstock

What You Need

  • Comb
  • Elastic bands
  • Hairpins

Procedure

  1. Divide your hair down the middle and into two sections.
  2. Make a ponytail on one side using an elastic band and do the same on the other end.
  3. Now, start weaving a classic braid on one ponytail and follow the same on the other side.
  4. Secure the braids with the help of elastic bands.
  5. Take one braided side and roll the hair into a bun.
  6. Secure the updo using hair pins to keep the hairstyle secure and follow the same steps on the other end.

3. Lace Headband Braid

Lace braid headband hairstyles for girls
Image: missysue.com
What You Need
  • Comb
  • Hair pins
  • Curling iron
  • Teasing comb
  • Hairspray
Procedure
  1. Take three small equal sections of hair from right above your ear and begin a French braid. You’ll need to braid it upwards and along the hairline.
  2. As you move along the hairline, keep adding hair to the side that is the closest to the hairline. Don’t add hair to the middle and other side sections. This will create a pulled-through look in the front.
  3. Keep weaving the braid until you reach the ear on the opposite side.
  4. Now, complete the braid as you would a regular braid.
  5. Neatly pin up the regular braid underneath your hair.
  6. Using a curling iron, make your hair a little wavy to add volume. Keep your hair in the curler for about three seconds.
  7. Backcomb the hair at the crown. This will create a pouf look right behind the lace braid.
  8. Spritz on some hairspray.
protip_icon Quick Tip
You may part your hair from ear to ear and tie the section that is behind your ears with an elastic band before you start braiding. This makes braiding the front section easier.

4. Double French Braid Top Knot

What You Need
  • Comb
  • Hair pins
  • Elastic band
Procedure
  1. Part your hair down the middle.
  2. Take a section of hair from the front, from one side of the parting.
  3. Divide it into three sections and French braid it.
  4. Once it reaches the back of your head, secure it with some hair pins.
  5. Repeat the same on the other half.
  6. Twist the ends of both the braids together so that they form a half bun. Secure it in place with an elastic band and hair pins.

5. Pull Through Braid

Pull through braid hairstyle
Image: kassinka.com
What You Need
  • Comb
  • Elastic bands
Procedure
  1. Tie your hair in a high ponytail using an elastic band.
  2. Divide the ponytail into three sections – two side sections and a large middle section.
  3. Twist the two side sections behind the large middle section, bring them in front of the middle section and tie both the side sections together using an elastic band. This will transform the side sections into one middle section.
  4. Divide the previous middle section to form two side sections and repeat the above steps. Keep using elastic bands to tie the new middle sections.
  5. Continue doing this until you are about three inches above the end of your hair. Using an elastic band, tie all the three sections together.
  6. Pancake the braid to make it look bigger.

6. Half Up Boho Braids

Steps to tie your hair in half up boho braids
Image: kassinka.com
What You Need
  • Comb
  • Hair pins
  • Elastic bands
Procedure
  1. Detangle your hair with a comb. Part it down the middle.
  2. Take a 3-inch section of hair from one side of your head and braid it till the end. Secure its ends with an elastic band. Repeat the same on the same side. You now have two braids.
  3. Create two braids in the same manner on the other side.
  4. Pancake the braids.
  5. Take some hair from both sides (from under the braids) and pin it in the center at the back of your head.
  6. Lift the braids, wrap them along the bac
  7. k of your head, and pin them on the opposite side.
  8. Make sure you pick up braids alternately from each side.

Licensed cosmetologist, Tuera A. Jacobs says, “This look is ideal for an outdoor or boho styled wedding. Just add a few flowers from the bouquet and voila, you have a beautiful masterpiece.”

7. Messy Pigtails Braid

Messy pigtails braid tutorial
Image: kassinka.com
What You Need
  • Comb
  • Elastic bands
Procedure
  1. Part your hair down the middle and divide it into two halves.
  2. Starting from the front, weave all the hair on one side into a Dutch braid. Braid it till the end and secure it with an elastic band.
  3. Repeat the same on the other side.
  4. Pancake your braids to add dimension. You can use pins to secure your braids in place.

8. Half Up Faux Hawk

What You Need
  • Comb
  • Elastic bands
  • Sectioning clip
Procedure
  1. Section off the hair at the front and top of your head.
  2. Take some hair from the sides and tie it into a half ponytail.
  3. Unclip the first section of hair and tease the hair at the crown of your head. This will add volume and height to your hairdo.
  4. Begin weaving that section of hair into a Dutch braid. Tie it at the end with an elastic band.
  5. Pancake the braid to make it look voluminous.

9. Half Up Fishtail Braid

Half up fishtail braid tutorial
Image: kassinka.com
What You Need
  • Comb
  • Elastic bands
Procedure
  1. Take some hair from the sides and tie it in a half ponytail.
  2. Weave the hair in the half ponytail in a fishtail braid.
  3. Secure the half fishtail braid with an elastic band.
  4. Pancake the braid to make it look good.
  5. You can do a couple of thin accent braids on either side to complete the look.

10. Braided Ponytail

Braided ponytail procedure
Image: kassinka.com
What You Need
  • Comb
  • Hair pins
  • Elastic bands
Procedure
  1. Comb your hair to detangle it. Part it on one side.
  2. Take a section of hair from the side of the parting with more hair. Weave it into a Dutch braid and secure the ends with an elastic band.
  3. Pancake the braid to make it look bigger.
  4. Take the rest of your hair in and tie it in a mid-level ponytail.
  5. Wrap the braid over the elastic band of the ponytail. You can use pins to secure it in place.

11. Mermaid Braid

What You Need
  • Comb
  • Elastic bands
  • Curling iron
Procedure
  1. The mermaid braid looks incredible on curly hair. So, using a curler, curl your hair. Leave your hair in the curler for about 5 seconds before releasing the clip. Don’t touch your hair until it has cooled down.
  2. Tie some hair from the front in a half ponytail.
  3. Weave the half ponytail into a braid. Tie it at the end with an elastic band. Remove the elastic band at the top.
  4. Now, take a small section of hair from one side, right from the top, and pass it through the first stitch of the braid.
  5. Pick up a section of hair from the other side, merge it with the first section of hair that you pulled through the hair previously, and pass it through the second stitch of the braid.
  6. Repeat this step until you have weaved all your hair till the end of the braid. Secure the ends with an elastic band.
  7. Pancake the mermaid braid.
protip_icon Quick Tip
The mermaid braid looks best on long and medium-length hair. It also makes your hair appear voluminous and thick.

12. Side Braids

What You Need
  • Comb
  • Hair pins
  • Elastic bands
Procedure
  1. Part your hair on one side.
  2. Weave a Dutch braid on the side of the parting that has more hair. Stop braiding near the nape of your neck. Pin the braid in place.
  3. Twist the hair on the other side and, again, pin it near the nape of your neck.
  4. Merge all your hair and begin weaving a fishtail braid on the same side as the first braid.
  5. Secure the ends with an elastic band.
  6. Pancake the fishtail braid.

13. Double Dutch Bun Braid

What You Need
  • Comb
  • Hairpins
  • Elastic bands
Procedure
  1. Part your hair down the middle.
  2. Take some hair from one side of your parting. Weave that section into a regular Dutch braid. Secure the ends with an elastic band.
  3. Repeat the same on the other side and pancake both braids.
  4. Take some hair from the nape of your neck and
  5. weave it into a regular braid.
  6. Leaving out the bottom braid, tie the rest of your hair along with the two Dutch side braids into a low messy bun.
  7. Wrap the bottom braid around the bun and pin it in place.

14. Pull-Through French Braid

What You Need
  • Comb
  • Elastic bands
  • Claw clip
Procedure
  1. Take the front section of hair and tie it in a half ponytail
  2. Clip it on top of your head.
  3. Tie another half ponytail below the first ponytail.
  4. Unclip the first half ponytail and split it in two.
  5. Flip the second half ponytail over from between these two halves and clip it to your head.
  6. Now, join the two halves of the first half ponytail together and secure them with an elastic band.
  7. Keep tying more half ponytails and repeating these steps until you run out of hair and the braid has reached the end of your hair.
  8. Pancake the braid.

15. The Large Braid

Large braids for girls
Image: kassinka.com
What You Need
  • Comb
  • Elastic bands
Procedure
  1. Divide your hair into three equal sections.
  2. Braid the three sections separately to create three braids.
  3. Pancake the three braids.
  4. Weave these three braids together to create one giant braid.

16. Redefined Side Pull-Through Braid

What You Need
  • Comb
  • Elastic bands
Procedure
  1. Sweep your hair to one side and divide it into two halves.
  2. Tie both halves into ponytails with elastic bands.
  3. Take a little hair from one ponytail and wrap it around the respective elastic band to cover it. Repeat the same on the other ponytail.
  4. Divide the first ponytail into halves and tie them together behind the second ponytail with an elastic.
  5. Repeat the same with the second ponytail.
  6. Continue this until the end. Secure the ends with an elastic band.
  7. Pancake the braid.

17. Braided Half Top Knot

What You Need
  • Comb
  • Hair pins
  • Elastic band
Procedure
  1. Tie a half ponytail and secure it with an elastic band.
  2. Weave the half ponytail into a braid. Pancake the braid and tie it at the end with an elastic band.
  3. Roll the braid into a top knot. Tie it with an elastic band and secure it with pins.

18. Braided Halo

What You Need
  • Comb
  • Hair pins
  • Elastic bands
Procedure
  1. Part your hair down the middle and divide it into two halves.
  2. Weave both the sections into braids on either side of your head.
  3. Lift the first braid, place it along the top of your head and pin it in place.
  4. Repeat the same with the other braid.

19. Braided Bun

What You Would Need
  • Comb
  • Hair pins
  • Elastic bands
Procedure
  1. Part your hair down the middle.
  2. Take a 2-inch hair from one side and weave it into a braid.
  3. Secure the ends with an elastic band.
  4. Repeat the same on the other side.
  5. Pin both braids at the back of your head, near the crown.
  6. Tie all your hair in a high ponytail.
  7. Weave the ponytail into a braid.
  8. Roll the braid around itself to form a bun and secure it with hair pins.

20. Topsy Tail Braid

What You Would Need
  • Comb
  • Elastic bands
Procedure
  1. Tie some hair from the front in a half ponytail with an elastic band.
  2. Flip the ponytail by lifting it and passing it through the hair above the elastic band. This will form a twist above the elastic band.
  3. Take some hair from below the first half ponytail and tie it into another half ponytail.
  4. Flip the second half ponytail.
  5. Repeat the same until the end. Secure the ends with an elastic band.
  6. Pancake the braid.

21. Boho Braids With Bun

Boho braids with bun braided hairstyle for girls
Image: kassinka.com
What You Need
  • Comb
  • Hair pins
  • Elastic bands
Procedure
  1. Tie the front hair into a half ponytail with an elastic band.
  2. Wrap the half ponytail around itself to form a top knot.
  3. Secure it with hair pins.
  4. Take a small section of hair from the side, just below the top knot, and weave it into a fishtail braid.
  5. Pancake the braid.

22. Chic Faux Braid

Chic faux braid braided hairstyle for girls
Image: adaras.se
What You Need
  • Comb
  • Elastic bands
  • Texturizing cream
  • Volumizing spray
  • Hairspray
Procedure
  1. To try this hairstyle, your hair needs to have some texture. So, apply a texturizing cream after washing your hair.
  2. Spritz a good amount of volume spray on your hair thoroughly.
  3. Tie the front of your hair in a half ponytail using an elastic band.
  4. Take a little hair from the half ponytail and wrap it around the elastic band, pinning it in place. Now, pull the half ponytail through itself just above the elastic band to topsy tail it. This will create twists above the half ponytail.
  5. Tie another half ponytail below the first one and repeat the previous step.
  6. Keep repeating the same until all your hair is in the braid.
  7. Pancake the braid.

23. Twisted Mohawk Hairstyle

The twisted mohawk hairstyle
Image: Shutterstock

What You Need

  • Comb
  • Styling gel

Procedure

  1. Divide your dry hair into three sections with a comb – a wider one down the center and two smaller ones on the sides.
  2. Apply a liberal amount of styling gel to the center section. Comb the hair upward, shaping it into a mohawk.
  3. Starting from the sides of your head, braid your hair upwards until it reaches the center of your head.
  4. Twist the hair in the center section and use styling gel to secure the twisted mohawk in place. Ensure that it stands tall and holds its shape for a perfect mohawk look.

Rock your unique twisted mohawk with confidence and style!

Braids are such a versatile and classic hairstyle that don’t require any complicated hair accessories. No wonder they never go out of fashion! No matter the decade, there was and always is some type of braided hairstyle for girls that trends. And with each passing month, more and more new braided styles keep showing up and taking the world by storm. This is probably because braids are practical yet stylish hairstyles that allow you to work without your hair getting in the way. As you keep practicing these hair beauty weaves, they become easier to achieve. They also keep you protected from damage and everyday pollution and dirt. Also, let’s not forget that braids are a great hairstyle to wear on those greasy hair days when you do not have time to wash your tresses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are lemonade braids?

Lemonade braids are a protective hairstyle with side-swept cornrows. They got the name after Beyonce launched her album “Lemonade” and sported the style on its cover.

What is a butterfly braid?

A butterfly braid or plait includes two side braids feeding into one large braid at the back of the wearer’s head.

What is a waterfall braid?

In a waterfall braid, you braid one part of the hair and leave the rest to cascade down, looking like a waterfall. It is a half-French braid.

Do braids damage hair?

If the hair is pulled tightly into the braid, you may experience hair breakage. Therefore, ensure that you follow a strict hair care regimen.

Can short hair be braided?

Yes, short hair can be braided. Micro braids are ideal for short hair. They are tiny and single braids. If you wish to rock the Rapunzel braid for an occasion, you can try hair extensions.

Why are braids put in hot water?

Braids that are lengthened or volumized using synthetic hair, are put in hot water to seal the ends together.

Key Takeaways

  • Braids are versatile and can be styled variously, from waterfall and fishtail braids to top knots and buns. You can dress them up or down for any event or day out.
  • They are a lifesaver for bad hair days, and they also help protect your strands.
  • Braids work for all hair lengths and textures. Whether you have long hair or a bob, thin hair or thick, there is a braid out there for you.
  • Always detangle the strands first and use products like gel or spray to smooth and hold the braids in place.
  • Add accessories! Pins, ribbons, beads, etc. can make basic braids stand out.


Learn how to create amazing braided hairstyles that will make you look fabulous from the video below. Get ready to amp up your hair game.

Personal Experience: Source

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